Advice for Church Planters (or anyone on the mission of Jesus)
By Chris Marsden • Jan 15th, 2008 • Category: FaithI stumbled across this morning and it seem to speak to me (and so many of my friends who are struggling through what it means to be on the mission of Jesus). I don’t, at this point in time, see myself as a church planter. In fact, I don’t particular like that term, even if/when God puts me in that position. But, living life and staying on mission are hard. So… Advice from Pat Loughery.
Stay focused on your vision of mission and relationship with Christ in community, and don’t make decisions that would dilute that vision for the sake of fast growth. It’s not worth it. Be who you are called to be, as a man, a husband and dad, a planter; trust God to do his part. Take 1 Cor 3:5-7 seriously, even when you don’t see it happening. (Ditto that for all the other promises and prophecies that come your way :-)). Take an eternal perspective, especially when the day to day sucks. Find trustworthy people who speak your language and who get and support what you’re trying to do - these friends and mentors are worth far more than gold - they’re worth your sanity and your soul. [link to original post]
Thanks Pat.
For me, the hardest part is remembering to see a more long term (eternal) perspective in what I am doing. Even the small churches I have worked for have more of an instant "success" kind of feeling than more organic ministry.
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Hey Chris - thanks for the link. I understand your uneasiness about ‘church planter’ - I don’t much like that term myself, though I do like the organic nature of it.
My story is that the community of faith that we started, never quite built its own gravity. We stopped meeting as a community last February, and still generally keep in touch (I watched the Seahawks’ humiliation with part of the crew last Sat).
It’s interesting, though, seeing the last four years in hindsight, and seeing what God’s doing in my own soul as I’m processing a lot of upheaval. It’s that long-term perspective that’s most helpful.
I appreciated you sharing the Pat Loughery wisdom. It is a timely word for me right now. I’m going to try to come back and visit. I like the way you think.
Keep up the good work.